critical and neo-marxist theory
TRANSCRIPT
Critical and Neo-Marxist Theory
The Frankfurt SchoolThe Ideas of Jurgen Habermas
Gramsci’s HegemonyWallertstein’s Historical Marxism
Intellectual Roots
• Early critical theorists drew on Marx (especially concept of alienation)
• Also influenced by ideas of Hegel, Nietzsche, and Freud
• Emphasized link between macro-level processes such as culture and effects on individual psyche and consciousness
Frankfurt School (1923)
• Ideas developed by Max Horkheimer, Theodor Adorno, Herbert Marcuse, and Erich Fromm
• Two main ideas:– 1. all ideas influenced by the current times
and by prevailing thought patterns– 2. cannot separate facts and values – need to
be self-reflexive and self-critical and develop a critical stance toward society
Frankfurt School (cont.)
• Linked culture to personality formation– Looked at how ideology of capitalism and
alienation warp the individual personality• Developed critique of mass cultur e
– Noted use of popular culture to manipulate individuals
– Standardization of taste– Distraction from real world– Encourages passiveness
Jurgen Habermas (1929 - )
• Studied philosophy• In 1956 became Theodor Adorno’s
assistant at Heidelberg• Adorno wrote “The Authoritarian
Personality” 1950: linked prejudice and anti-Semitism to authoritarianism
• Habermas became chair of philosophy at Frankfurt 1964
Habermas (cont.)
• Put Marx’s ideas into critical framework
• Shift from materialism to idealism
• Added Weber’s rationalization, Durkheim’s consensus, Parson’s value generalization
• Emphasis on communicative action and the generation of ideology
Legitimation Crisis (1975)• Society developed through qualitatively
different stages:Primitive
Traditional CivilizationsModern Civilizations:
Class Societies Capitalist – Liberal- Organized
Capitalist Post-Capitalist
Post-Modern
Legitimation Crisis (cont.)
• Marx said change developed out of contradictions in material base
• But Habermas says change occurs out of contradictions in ideas and how they are legitimated through norms and values
• Legitimation = new set of norms and values used to justify the system
• Consensus breakdown = societal crisis
Legitimation Crisis (cont.)
• Traditional societies – breakdown of religious norms and values led to idea of rational exchange between equals
• Early liberal capitalism – doubts re: market ideology of led to organized capitalism
• Need for formal legitimations based on “reason and rationality”
• “legitimation crisis” occurs
Legitimation Crisis (cont.)• Legitimation part of socialization process in
“lifeworld” through “communicative action”• The norms we use to justify the truthfulness of our
communicative acts are the same norms that are used to justify the system
• Change in legitimation system = change in lifeworld
• Increasing rationalization • Necessitates consensus about norms (Durkheim)
and value generalization (Parsons)
Reason and Rationality
• Two types of action and rationalization:
• 1. purposive-rational action using means-end rationality
• 2. communicative action using reason
• First type used by capitalist system• Now we need to move to second type
Communicative Action
• Ideal speech = no barriers (i.e. coercion)• Consensus about truth developed through
communication process• Ideal speech has 4 criteria:
1. understandability of utterances2. truth of utterances3. reliability and sincerity of speaker4. authority (right to offer ideas)
Criticism of Habermas
• Too idealistic• Total consensus impossible• Do all speakers have equal ability?• How will conflict be handled?
Marxism and Neo-Marxism
Variants of Marxism:
• Hegelian Marxism (Antonio Gramsci)• Neo-Marxian Economic Theory (Braverman)• Fordism and Post-Fordism• Historical Marxism• Analytical Marxism• Post-Modern Marxian Theory (Laclau / Mouffe)
Gramsci and Hegemony
• Italian Marxist• Co-founder of Italian Marxist Party• Analyzed political situation in Italy• “The Prison Notebooks” 1929-1935• Cultural leadership and domination used
by ruling party of a society• Domination through ideology rather than
force
Hegemony
• Hegemony = “uniting persuasion from above with consent from below…it is done by the dominant and collaborated in by the dominated”
• Intellectuals need to ally selves with revolutionary party rather than ruling party to lead masses to power
Immanuel Wallerstein and World Systems Theory
• Extension of Marx’s historical materialism• Looks at global historical change rather than
societal historical change• Two “world systems” so far:
1. World Empire - political and military domination2. Modern Capitalist World Economy- global economic division of labour
Modern Capitalist World Economy
1. Core countries -Exploit rest of system- free labour market – skilled and supervisory
2. Semi Periphery- has industry set up by core- “sharecropping”
3. Periphery- provide raw materials and labour for core
Future World System
• Socialist world government
• All labour will be free labour